Family Of Slain Jewelry Store Owner Hoping For Answers

ARLINGTON, Va. (WUSA) -- Police are still searching for the killer of an Arlington business owner from Herndon.

Police have not confirmed the victim's name but family of 52-year-old Tommy Wong say he died in an armed robbery at Capital Jewelers in the 3200 block of Columbia Pike Friday afternoon.

Wong's daughter, Vivian, says her dad was a watchmaker and jeweler. His family says he had been doing it for most of his life. He had owned Capital Jewelers for 5 years.

His daughter says her dad would come home late on Friday nights usually by 10:30. But when midnight rolled around and he still hadn't come home, they went to the store. They saw the lights still and his car parked in the lot.That's when they called police.

"I just want to know why didn't he take what he needed and leave my dad alone? He could've taken what he needed. He didn't have to take his life too.

Vivian Wong had talked to her father that afternoon.

"He called me around 1 and everything was fine."

That was just three hours before police say someone walked in and killed her father in an armed robbery around 4 p.m. Friday.

The jewelry store had been locked for hours until police came and broke the glass door to get in around midnight. That's when they discovered Wong's body.

"They wouldn't let us come inside to see him and then they told me he passed."

Neighboring businesses have been leaving flowers at the store. Over the weekend, Arlington Police dusted for prints and gathered other evidence to find Wong's killer.

The family says the previous store owner had been robbed before and Wong had taken extra steps to keep safe.

Customers say there was tight security and you would have to be buzzed in, to get into the store. But the suspect wore a reflective vest that could've caused Mr. Wong to let his guard down.

A shattered family: Wong's wife, son and daughter hope to find the killer. Vivian sees the jewelry given by her father, now more precious then ever, and keeps it close to her heart.

"he did everything. He worked hard for his family. He's a better dad I could ever ask for that's all I can say."

Anyone with information concerning this incident or the identity of the suspect is asked to contact Detective Richard Conigliaro at 703.228.4193 or investigations@arlingtonva.us.